The state Employment Security Commission released new unemployment numbers today and they are shocking. Charlotte’s unemployment rate soared to 10.5 percent in January, from an already terrible 8.9 percent rate the previous month.
By comparison, the state of South Carolina has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation, 10.4 percent, which is still slightly better than the Queen City’s. A year ago, local unemployment stood at 5.4 percent.
What can you say? Fellow citizens are seriously hurting, so please help out any way you can. You know local government won’t be doing anything extra to lighten the heavier load, so do what you think is effective. Donate your time, money, clothing or food to Loaves & Fishes, the Urban Ministry Center, Crisis Assistance Ministry, or other helpful groups, or help out someone individually.
Here are some useful phone numbers: Urban Ministry, 704-347-0278; Loaves & Fishes, 704-523-4333; Crisis Assistance, 704- 371-3000.
This article appears in Mar 17-24, 2009.
